Typewriter having sliding universal member



Dec. 14, 1965 w. E. REXFORD TYPEWRITER HAVING SLIDING UNIVERSAL MEMBERl0 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 13, 1965 W 4 a w INVENTOR. Mzz/s f.ZFEXF'ORD Dec. 14, 1965 w. E. REXFORD TYFEWRITER HAVING SLIDINGUNIVERSAL MEMBER 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 13, 1963 INVENTOR 44/5PEXFa/PD Dec. 14, 1965 w. REXFORD 3,223,220

TYPEWRITER HAVING SLIDING UNIVERSAL MEMBER Filed March 13, 1963 10Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. M405 5. PEXFa/PD Dec. 14, 1965 w. E. REXFORDTYPEWRITER HAVING SLIDING UNIVERSAL MEMBER 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March13, 1963 INVENTOR. M405 E. Fax/ amp Dec. 14, 1965 w. E. FEEXFORDTYPEWRITER HAVING SLIDING UNIVERSAL MEMBER l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March15, 1963 Dec. 14, 1965 w. E. REXFORD TYPE-WRITER HAVING SLIDINGUNIVERSAL MEMBER Filed March 13, 1963 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 i, If z Iii] .IIII.

Dec. 14, 196 w. E. REXFORD TYPEWRITEH HAVING SLIDING UNIVERSAL MEMBER 10Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed March 13, 1963 R 4 m %)r 3 a P 0 9 mm w 2 E %/2 a.m

Dec. 14, 1955 w. REXFQRD 3,223,220

TYPBWRITER HAVING SLIDING UNIVERSAL MEMBER Filed March 13, 1963 10Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR. Mu/s 'fzxraeo Dec. 14, 1965 w. E. REXFORDTYPEW'RITER HAVING SLIDING UNIVERSAL MEMBER 1Q Sheets-Sheet 9 FiledMarch 13, 1963 INVENTOR. 14/405 5. Pix/ 0;?!)

Dec. 14, 1965 w. E. REXFORD TYPEWRITER HAVING SLIDING UNIVERSAL MEMBER10 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed March 13, 1965 MW MFN INVENTOR M405 .5. FEXFaRDUnited States Patent Qfitice 3,223,220 Patented Dec. 14, 1965 3,223,220TYPEWRITER HAVING SLIDING UNIVERSAL MEMBER Willis E. Rexford, Girard,Pa., assignor to Louis Marx & Co., 1116., New York, N.Y., a corporationof New York Filed Mar. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 264,843 6 Claims. (Cl. 19722)This invention relates to typewriters and, more particularly, to animproved portable typewriter characterized by simplicity andinexpensiveness of parts, ease of construction and assembly, andreliability in operation.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a typewriterwhich, in addition to ease and simplicity of manufacture and assemblyand ease and simplicity of operation, is characterized by improvementsin various components such as the universal bar mechanism, the carriageescapement mechanism, the ribbon feed mechanism, the guiding means forthe typing keys, the carriage biasing means, and the back spacing means.

Thus, a particular feature of the invention is a novel key guide or combwhich is formed of a metal stamping having a plurality of slotsextending transversely thereof and in longitudinally spaced relation.These slots act as guides not only for the typing keys but also for thepivoted levers supporting a space bar and for bell cranksinterconnecting the typing keys to the type bars of the type basket.

The space bar levers, as well as the bell cranks, have portionsprojecting through slots in the upper surface of this comb, and auniversal bar or rod is mounted to extend over this upper surface insomewhat spaced relation thereto and is arranged for bodily shiftingsidewise. As a typing key is operated, or as the space bar is depressed,the universal bar is shifted bodily and this shifting of the universalbar controls operation of various parts of the typewriter such as theribbon feed and the carriage escapement mechanism. Furthermore, the bellcranks, the typing keys and the space bar levers are easily insertedinto the guide comb, thus contributing to the simplicity and efiiciencyof assembly of the parts.

The novel construction and design of the carriage escapement mechanismprovides a positive two-step advance of the carriage. The escapementmechanism includes an oscillatably mounted pawl mechanism cooperatingwith a rack secured to the carriage, and this rack has associatedtherewith a pair of operating levers or handles by means of which it maybe lifted out of operative relation with the pawl mechanism so that thecarriage may be readily and easily positioned at any place along itspath or" travel. The pawl mechanism is also utilized as a novel meansfor raising the ribbon into proper position for engagement by a typebar, while maintaining the ribbon otherwise lowered so as to expose thetyped material to view. For this purpose, a spring finger, such as aspring wire, projects from the pawl mechanism and is freely engagedthrough an aperture in a ribbon guide mounted for substantially verticalsliding movement.

The novel means for biasing the carriage assembly in one directioncomprises a relatively elongated coil spring having one end secured tothe carriage and its opposite end secured to a fixed part of thetypewriter, with the spring extending around a pulley mounted adjacentone side of the typewriter. This biasing means provides a smoothmovement of the carriage to the left during typing.

The novel ribbon feeding means includes a sheet metal stamping which isin the form of an elongated angle connected to the universal bar andbeing formed with rack teeth engageable with a pawl. The sheet metalrack member rests freely by gravity over the pawl and is moved in onedirection, by operation of the universal bar, to operate the pawl andthen slides freely back over the pawl teeth during reverse motion of theuniversal bar. Rotation of the pawl, through gearing and worms, rotates,selectively, one or the other of the shafts to which the ribbon spoolsare keyed.

A novel back spacing means is provided which includes two sets oflinkages, one extending along one side of the typewriter and the otherextending along the rear of the typewriter, these two sets of linkagesbeing operatively interconnected in a novel manner. The linkageextending along the back of the typewriter is connected with thecarriage escapement mechanism in a novel manner to eiiect back spacingresponsive to operation of a back space key.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference ismade to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof asillustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a typewriter embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the typewritershown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to a portion of FIG. 2, but illustratingthe parts in a different position;

FIG. 6 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG.3 and illustrating the ribbon feed shifting means;

FIG. 7 is an exploded partial perspective view of a ratchet meansassociated with the ribbon feed;

FIG. 8 is a partial vertical sectional view, taken on the line 88 ofFIG. 3 and illustrating the operation of the universal bar by the spacekey;

FIG. 9 is a rear elevation view, partly in section, illustrating thecarriage advancing mechanism;

FIG. 10 is a partial elevational view, partially in section,illustrating the escapement mechanism for the carriage;

FIG. 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIG.10;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are sectional views taken on the lines 1212 and 13-13,respectively, of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a view of a portion of FIG. 12, but illustrating theescapement mechanism in a different position;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken on the line 1515 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the escapement mechanism forthe carriage;

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the guide comb and theassociation of the keys with the universal bar;

FIG. 18 is a partial side elevational view, partly in section, of amodified form of the typewriter shown in FIGS. 1 through 17 andincluding a back spacing arrangement;

FIG. 19 is a partial side elevational view, partly in section and withparts omitted, illustrating part of the linkage of the back spacingmechanism in an operated position;

FIG. 20 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on the line 2020 ofFIG. 18 and illustrating further components of the back spacing linkage;

FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 20 but illustrating the parts in anoperated position; and

FIG. 22 is a partial horizontal sectional view of the typewriter shownin FIGS. 18 thruogh 21, taken on the line 22-22 of FIG. 20.

Support base and bracket assembly Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, 8 and9, the typewriter includes a support base 20 which may be a sheet metalstamping, and which is formed with an upstanding peripheral rim 21 andprovided with support feet 22. Adjacent the keyboard, base 20 is formedwith a relatively large cutout 23 conforming in general plan to the planof the keyboard including the space bar. A shell or partial cover 19 forthe typewriter may be secured to the rim 21 of base 20 in any desiredmanner, not forming any part of the invention.

Base 20 has secured thereto sheet metal brackets for supporting thevarious operating elements. There are two principal brackets, includinga forward bracket, generally indicated at 25, and a rear bracket, orcarriage guide bracket, generally indicated at 30. Brackets 25 and 30may be secured to base 20 in any desired manner as by riveting, spotwelding, the use of twisted tongues, or the like.

Bracket 25 has the functions of supporting the universal bar or rod 100,which controls the ribbon feed and carriage escapement responsive toactuation of the typing keys or the space bar, and further supporting apivot rod or axle 89 for the bell crank levers 75, operated by theindividual keys, and for the space bar support arms or levers 81. T thisend, bracket 25 includes a relatively elongated flat base 24 extendingtransversely of base 20 immediately to the rear of rimmed cutout 23. Ateach end of base portion 24 of bracket 25 there are upstanding arms 26which are mirror copies of each other. Each arm 26 has a horizontallyextending slot 27 near its upper end which is arranged to guidinglyreceive the universal bar 100. Somewhat below its mid-height portion,each arm 26 is formed with an aperture 28 arranged to receive an end ofpivot rod 89 for the bell cranks and the space bar levers. Each uprightarm 26 may have a substantially horizontal outturned upper end 29 whichmay be apertured.

Rear bracket 30 supports the carriage assembly, the type bar basket, theribbon spools, the ribbon guides, and other parts cooperative with thesecomponents. Bracket 30 includes a generally channel shaped sheet metalmember 31 (FIG. 2) extending transversely of base 20 adjacent the rearedge thereof, channel shaped member 31 having a base 32 spot welded orotherwise secured to support base 20, a rear wall 33, and a pair offront walls 34. Each front wall 34 extends inwardly a little less thanone-third the length of channel member 31, and the inner edges of frontwalls 34 coincide with the ends of a rectangular notch 36 in channelbase 32. Rear wall 33 is formed with a generally trapezoidal notch 37extending downwardly from the upper edge thereof. Rear bracket 30further includes a pair of generally vertical side members or walls 35(FIG. 3) which are mirror copies of each other. The outer ends of walls33 and 34 are formed with tongues projecting therefrom which extendthrough correspondingly located slots in each side wall 35 and aretwisted over to anchor the side walls to channel member 31.

Each side wall 35 of bracket 30 extends forward a substantial distancefrom channel member 31 and, rearwardly of this channel member, isformed, at its upper edge, with a laterally and vertically extendingapertured ear 41. Below each ear 41, each side wall 35 has a bent tongue42 projecting from its rear edge. The ear 41 on the left side wall 35,as viewed from the front of the typewriter, is used to rotatably mount aguide pulley 148 for a carriage return spring 145, and the bent tongue42 on the right side wall 35 as utilized as an anchor for one end ofspring 145, which spring is trained over pulley 148. Each side wall 35further has a notch 43 in its upper edge, substantially centrally ofchannel 31, and a pair of ears 44 extend horizontally outwardly oneither side of notch 43. The ears 44 on each of the side walls 35 serveto support the carriage assembly, and further act. in cooperation withnotch 43, to form a bearing for a crank member 185 operating thecarriage escapement mechanism.

Forwardly of channel member 31, each side wall 35 is formed, adjacentits lower edge, with a vertically extending slot 46 for a purpose to bedescribed. A tongue 40 extends from the upper edge of each side wall 35,and has a forked upper end forming an outwardly opening notch whichserves as a ribbon guide. Tongues 49 are twisted out of the generalplane of each side wall 35 at an angle of about degrees, and it will benoted that the forward arm 39 of each ribbon guide extends a littleabove the rear arm 39' thereof. The upper portion of each wall 35extends forwardly beyond ribbon guide 40, as indicated at 47, and eachextension 47 is formed with a pair of vertically spaced and alignedoutwardly extending apertured horizontal ears 48 which conjointlyreceive a drive spindle 115 for a ribbon spool 110. Forwardly of ears48, each extension 47 is formed with a downwardly projecting andrearwardly opening hook 49 for a purpose to be described.

At a level somewhat above the center of slots 46, the inner edge of eachfront wall 34 of channel member 31 has a projecting car 51 (FIG. 2)which is bent forwardly to extend in a vertical plane and each car 51 isformed with a horizontal slot 52 for a purpose to be described. Also,the upper edge of each front wall 34 has a book 53 (FIG. 1) bentforwardly therefrom, likewise for a purpose to be described.

Type bar assembly The present invention features shifting betweendifferent characters by shifting the type bar basket. The type barbasket, which is generally indicated at St is essentially conventionalexcept for the aforementioned shifting operation and the connection ofthe type bar levers in operative relation with the typewriter keys.

Basket includes a generally arcuately elongated casting 54 which hasapertured cars 56 by means of which it may be secured by screws to aplate 57. Casting 54 is formed with outwardly opening radially extendingslots 58 each of which receives the pivot end of a type bar lever 55.The pivot ends of levers are apertured to receive an arcuate pivot rodor shaft 59 which lies in a surface groove in casting 54 and is securedtherein in any desired manner. Adjacent its pivot portion, each type barlever 55 is formed with an apertured ear 61 for a purpose to bedescribed. The outer end of each type bar lever has a type bar securedthereto, each type bar 60 being a casting carrying a pair of characters62 spaced longitudinally thereof, with the casting being anchored overthe free end of the associated level 55.

Mounting plate 57 for type basket 50 slides on a support plate 63 whichhas bent upper and lower ends. The upper end of support plate 63 is spotwelded or otherwise securcd to front walls 34 of channel member 31, andthe lower bent end of support plate 63 is spot Welded or otherwisesecured to support base 20. Intermediate its ends, support bracket 63 isformed with a relatively large and substantially rectangular notch 64,and an angled ear 65 on the rear surface of plate 57 projects throughnotch 64 and rearwardly of support bracket 63. Mounting plate 57 isformed with a pair of spaced preferably circular apertures which are atthe same horizontal level.

Plate 57 is guided for rectilinear movement along support bracket 63 inany suitable manner. The support bracket, and the entire type basket 50,are biased to an upper limit of movement by tension springs 66 connectedbetween ears on the ends of plate 57 and the hooks or cars 53 on thefront walls 34 of the channel member 31. The opposite ends of plate 57are formed with apertured and forwardly directed cars 67 to each ofwhich is pivotally connected one end of a yoke member 68. Each yokemember 68 is in the form of a strap which has its forward end bentlaterally outwardly and then forwardly. The forward ends of yokes 68 arepivotally secured to vertical arms 26 of bracket by suitable means, suchas rivets 69. The type bars are gravity biased to the positionillustrated in FIG. 2 where they rest against a support 71 in the formof a generally arcuate rod having downturned ends engaged throughaligned apertured cars 72 on the two yokes 63.

Keyboard mechanism The keyboard, generally indicated at 45, includes thetyping keys 70, a space bar 80, and shift keys 85. As Will be noted fromFIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 8, the keys are arranged in three rows comprising alower row, an intermediate row, and an upper row. Also, and withparticular reference to FIG. 17, it will be noted that the keys arearranged in groups of three, with each key of a group differening inlever length from the adjacent keys. Thus, the longest keys 79A are usedfor the lower row, the intermediate length keys 70B are used for theintermediate row, and the shortest keys 70C are used for the upper row.

Each key is stamped from metal and is in the form of an angular strip ofmetal including a generally horizontal arm 73 and a generally verticalarm 74. There is one key 70 associated with each of the type bar levers55, and the generally vertical arm 74 of each key has an operating heador button 76 secured on its upper end and having printed, or otherwiseprovided on its face, the characters of the associated type bar 60.

Each horizontal arm 73 has a reduced inner end 77 for a purpose to bedescribed. Furthermore, each key 70 is formed with an aperture, with theapertures being located diflerently in each of the keys 7 0A, 70B and 79C. In keys 70A, this aperture is located adjacent an enlargement 78Aspaced substantially from vertical arm 74, and in keys 7013, theaperture is located adjacent an enlargement 78B (FIG. 17) which is muchcloser to vertical arm 74. In keys 70C, the aperture is located at theintersection of arms 73 and 74.

Space bar 80 is a relatively elongated plastic element which issupported upon a pair of levers 81. Each lever 81 is a relativelyelongated and substantially flat metal stamping having an upturned outerend receivable in a recess in space bar 80. In alignment with the lowerrow of keys 70A and their operating buttons 76, levers 81, which aremirror copies of each other, are off-set, as at 82, to provide clearancefor the operating buttons 76 of adjacent key levers 79, particularlywhen these operating buttons are depressed. For a purpose to bedescribed, adjacent the rearward end of each lever 81 there is anupstanding arm 83 which normally extends in a substantially verticaldirection. The rear end of each lever 81 is formed with a downturnedabutment 84 for a purpose to be described. Each lever 81 is providedwith a cutout 81A (FIG. 8) receiving one end of a spring 81B whichencircles a pivot rod 89 to urge the lever in a clockwise direction toits normal position, with abutment 84 acting as a stop.

There are a pair of shift levers 85, one at each end of keyboard 45.Each shift lever 85 is a relatively elongated stamped metal stripprovided with a pair of operating buttons 86 adjacent its forward end,one operating button being aligned with the lower row of keys 70A andthe other operating button being aligned with the intermediate row ofkeys 7GB. Keys 86 are plastic elements suitably labeled, stamped, orimprinted With the designation FIG. SHIFT, and these plastic buttonshave recesses engaging upstanding arms on each lever 85. The inner endof each lever 85 is apertured at the location of vertical slots 46 inside Walls 35 of rear bracket 39. The purpose of this will be describedhereinafter.

Each typing key is operatively connected to its associated type barthrough the medium of a bell crank 75. These bell cranks, whileotherwise identical in construc- 6 tion, have the lengths of theirhorizontal arms varied so that there are three groups of bell cranks.Bell cranks 75A are associated with the lower row of keys 70A, bellcranks 75B are associated with the intermediate row of keys 70B, andbell cranks 750 are associated with the upper row of typing keys 70C.Each bell crank includes a generally vertical arm 87 and a generallyhorizontal arm 88, and has a pivot aperture at the intersection of thesearms. Vertical arms 87 of the bell cranks are substantially equal inlength. However, bell cranks 75A have the shortest horizontal arms 88,bell cranks 75B have horizontal arms 88 of an intermediate length, andbell cranks 75C have horizontal arms 88, which are longer than thecorresponding arms of bell cranks 75A and 75B. The forward end of eachhorizontal arm 88 is formed with an angularly off-set tongue 79engageable loosely through the aperture of the associated key 70 so asto pivotally connect this arm to the associated key. It will be notedthat, with each key 70 pivotally connected to the forward end of arm 88of its associated bell crank lever 75, the lengths of horizontal arms 73of the keys 70, rearwardly of the bell cranks 75, are equal to eachother.

Guiding structure for keyboard elements The principal component of theguiding structure for the keyboard elements is What may be termed a keycomb 99 shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 8 and 17. This key comb is a formed anddie cut stamping of sheet metal, which is bent or otherwise formed toprovide a substantially horizontal and relatively wide front flange 91,a front wall 92, a top wall 93, a rear wall 94, and a relatively narrowrear flange 96. Front flange 91 is suitably anchored, in any desiredmanner, to base 24 of front bracket 25, for example by tonguesprojecting from base 24 through apertures in flange 91 and twisted tolock flange 91 to base 24. Rear flange 96 is similarly anchored to mainsupport base 20 of the typewriter. This rear flange also forms anabutting surface for engagement with rear abutments 84 of space barlevers 81.

Comb 913 is suitably located by engagement of its rear wall 94 with ashort upturned flange 24' along the rear edge of base 24 of frontbracket 25.

Comb or guide is formed with a series of slots extending through frontwall 92 and top wall 93, these slots 95, in the front wall portion,being Wide enough to receive each typing key 70 and its associated bellcrank 75 and, in the top wall, being somewhat narrower so as to havesufficient clearance to receive only the upright arms 87 of bell cranks75. Rear wall 94 is formed with slots 95A, each of which is aligned,fore and aft, with a slot 95, and slots 95A are of a width sufiicient toreceive, with clearance, horizontal arms 73 of levers 70. Front wall 92extends vertically, then slopes forwardly and outwardly, and then has ashort vertical section joined to top wall 93. Rear wall 94 lies in asingle plane.

At locations laterally of the typewriter corresponding to the laterallocations of vertical arms 83 of space bar levers 81, comb top wall 93is formed with short slots 97. Just a short distance laterally of eachof the slots 97, front wall 92 of comb 90 is formed with a pair of slots98 which are somewhat wider than slots 95 and 95A. Also, rear wall 94 isformed with slots 98A which are aligned, fore and aft, with slots 98 andwhich havelfiibstantially the same width as slots 98. Slots 98 and 98Aare sufliciently wide to permit the passage, with clearance, of a keylever arm 73, a bell crank arm 88, and a space bar lever 81. Each end offront wall 92 extends somewhat beyond the corresponding ends of top wall93 and rear wall 94, and these extended portions are reduced in heightand formed with upwardly opening slots 99 for receiving shift levers 85.

In assembling the keyboard levers to the comb, bell cranks 75 areinserted from the front into the comb and space bar levers 81 arelikewise inserted from the front '2 through the comb. Pivot rod 89 isthen inserted through holes 28 in arms 26 of front bracket 25 andthrough the pivot apertures in bell cranks 75 and in shift levers 85,rod 89 being held in position as by swaging or bending its ends outsidearms 26 of bracket 25. When this has been effected, vertical arms 87 ofhell cranks 75 will extend substantially above top wall 93 of key comb90, as will also vertical arms 83 of the two space bar levers 81.

The guiding means for the keyboard levers further includes a guidingelement 101 engageable with reduced rear ends 77 of type key levers 70and also having a guiding relation with shift levers 85. Referring toFIGS. 2, 3, and 17, rear lever guide 101 is an angular cross sectionmember formed of sheet metal and having its base suitably anchored tomain support base 20. Guide 101 may be suitably positioned fore and aftto the base by engagement of its vertical wall with tabs 102 struck upfrom base 20. The vertical leg of guide 101 is formed with a series ofvertically extending and relatively short closed slots 103, each alignedwith a type bar lever portion 73 and each having reduced end 77 of thetype bar lever extending thereinto. Adjacent each end, the verticallyextending rear leg of guide 101, is formed with an upwardly opening slot104 each of which serves as a rear guide for a shift lever 85.

The typing keys 70 are biased to the upper position, or clockwise asviewed in FIG. 2, by any suitable means. Shown by way of example is arubber spring device 105 which forms the subject matter of copendingapplication Serial No. 264,937, filed March 13, 1963, by ShigeakiKuramochi, now Patent No. 3,197,011, issued July 27, 1965. However,other types of spring biasing means may be used for the typing keys 70.Briefly described, rubber spring device 105 comprises a channel 106having its: base suitably anchored to main support base 20 and locatedbetween comb 90 and rear guide member 101. Channel 106 is formed with aseries of upwardly opening slots 107, each receiving one of the typingkeys 70 in guiding relation. A substantially rectangular and relativelyelongated strip of rubber, such as foam rubber, is disposed in channel106 and extends somewhat above the upper edge thereof so that theseveral typing keys 75 will bear thereagainst while having guidingrelation in slots 107. The shift levers pivot about the upper edges oftabs 109 struck up from base 20 and lying against the forward outersurface of channel 106 adjacent each end thereof. Tabs 109 extendsomewhat above the upper edge of channel 106. Space bar 80 is biased inan upward direction by means of coil springs 101 having a turn embracingpivot rod 89 and having one leg engaged through a slot 98A and a secondleg hooked into a notch 102 in the undersurface of each space bar lever81. This is clearly illustrated in FIG. 8.

Interconnection 0 the keyboard levers t0 the operating parts of thetypewriter Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, for the purpose of operating atype bar 60 each time a key 70 is operated, each bell crank 75 isconnected by a wire 113 to aperture 61 of the associated type bar lever55. For this purpose, wire 113 may have a hooked end engaged in aperture61 and an angularly off-set end engaged through the aperture at theupper end of the vertical arm of the associated bell crank.

As previously stated, the type basket is biased upwardly by springs 66engaged between tabs 53 on rear bracket 34 and ears on type bar basketmounting plate 57. Shifting between lower case and upper case charactersis effected by lowering the type bar basket rather than by raising thecarriage assembly. As previously mentioned, each shift lever 85 has anaperture at its rear end substantially aligned with vertically extendingslots 46 in the end plates of the rear bracket. Each shift lever 85 hasassociated therewith a rod 114, and each rod 114 extends through theaperture in the associated shift lever 85, through the adjacentvertically elongated slot 46, and through the horizontally elongatedslot 52 in the nearer car 51 of rear bracket 30. The inner ends of rods114 are engaged in the respective apertures in ear on plate 57. Wheneither shift lever is operated, it is swung in a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5, to move the outer end of itsassociated rod 114 upwardly in the adjacent vertically extending slot46. The inner portion of each rod 114 thereupon moves forwardly inhorizontal slot 52 in ear 51, and at the same time downwardly, to moveear 65, and thus mounting plate 57, downwardly. A tension spring 116 isconnected at one end to ear 65 and at the other end to an upstruck earof rear bracket 30.

The operation of feeding the ribbon and advancing the carriage,responsive to operation of a typing key or the space bar, is effected bya universal rod or bar 100. Rod 100 extends lengthwise of forwardbracket 25, with its ends projecting through horizontal slots 27,suitable means being provided to prevent displacement of rod 100 fromthese slots. Slots 27 support rod 100 so that it is positioned slightlyabove upper wall 93 of comb 50 and, in a manner to be described, rod 100is biased into engagement with vertical arms 87 of bell cranks 75 andwith vertical arm 83 of each of the space bar levers 81. Each time a keyis depressed, its associated bell crank is rocked counterclockwise, withthe key 70, and particularly the horizontal arm 73 thereof, slidingrearwaro'ly as tab 79 on the bell crank lever moves downwardly andrearwardly. Also, each time space bar 80 is depressed, the upwardlyextending arms 83 of its support levers move in a counterclockwisedirection. Each of these movements of a bell crank or of the arms 83advances universal rod or bar parallel to itself in a directionforwardly of the typewriter. This bodily sidewise reciprocation ofuniversal bar or rod 100 is used to effect such actions as step-by-stepadvancing of the ribbon and operation of the escapement mechanism forthe carriage, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

Ribbon feeding and guiding mechanism Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and5, ribbon spools or reels 110, are disengageably keyed to shafts whichare rotatably supported in cars 48 of the side walls of rear bracket 30,each shaft being swaged or the like above the upper ear 48 to maintainthe shaft against downward displacement. A gear 117 is secured on thelower end of each shaft and meshes with a respective worm 118 on aribbon feed control shaft or driving 120. Shaft 120 is mounted forhorizontal reciprocation in the horizontal slots formed by hooked ends4? of the side parts of rear bracket 30. Each worm 118 is formed bycoiling a short piece of wire about shaft 120, with the convolutions ofthe coils spaced to receive the teeth the gears 117, and this wire issoldered or brazed at at least one end to shaft 120 so as to retain theworm against displacement axially of shaft 120. Shaft 120 is formed withan operating handle 121 at one end thereof.

Shaft 120 is selectively shiftable to engage either worm 118 with theassociated gear 117, and is arranged to be retained in the adjustedposition. For this purpose, an inverted U-shaped bracket 122 hasoutwardly projecting ears 123 which are anchored to main support base 20as by having tabs, struck from such base, extended through slots in ears123 and twisted to lock these ears to base 20. Bracket 122 is arrangedsomewhat laterally outwardly of the adjacent end of shaft 115. A leafspring 124 is anchored to the upper surface of bracket 122 and has aV-shaped deformation 119 adjacent its free end. Spring 124 bears againstshaft 120 so that the shaft may be locked either inwardly or outwardlyof deformation 119.

Shaft 120, in its ribbon feed switching action, operates as follows.Assuming that shaft 120 is moved to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 6wherein it is inwardly of deformation 119 of spring 124, right-hand worm118, as viewed looking from the front of the typewriter, will be engagedwith the associated gear 117 so that the shaft 115 at the right side ofthe typewriter, again looking from the front, will be rotated uponrotation of shaft 120. Left worm gear 118 will be disengaged from itsassociated gear 117 so that the left ribbon spool shaft 115 is free torotate. To shift the ribbon feed, knob 121 is moved forwardly from theposition shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. During this forward movement, shaft 120tends to pivot about the axis of the right-hand ribbon spool shaft 115,due to engagement of right-hand worm 118 with right-hand gear 117. Thisswings left-hand worm 118 into engagement with left-hand gear 117 asshaft 120 engages V-shaped deformation 119. As shaft 121 snaps past thisdeformation and is re-engaged with spring 124 outwardly of thedeformation, left-hand worm 113 remains in engagement with left-handgear 117 to act as a pivot for shaft 121), and right-hand worm 118 isdisengaged from right-hand gear 117. Right-hand shaft 115 is thereuponfree to rotate, whereas left-hand shaft 115 will be rotated only whenshaft 120 is rotated in a manner to be described.

The rotation of shaft 120 is always in a clockwise direction, as viewedin FIGS. 4, and 6. Such rotation is effected by a pawl or rack 125engageable with a ratchet gear 130 secured on shaft 120. As best seen inthe perspective view of FIG. 7, pawl or rack 125 is a formed stamping ofrelatively light gauge sheet metal. The major portion of the pawl isangular in cross section to provide a generally vertical leg having anelongated slot 126 of a width somewhat greater than the diameter ofshaft 120. An arm 127 extends angularly upwardly and forwardly from thisvertical wall and is formed with an aperture at its free end. Thehorizontal leg of the pawl or rack 125 is formed with a series of rackteeth 128, which are tabs punched and bent out of the horizontal leg toextend downwardly and rearwardly. It will be noted that the teeth ofgear 130 are substantially triangular with the radial edges facingtoward teeth 128 of pawl 125.

Pawl or rack 125 is operated by universal bar 100 which is extendedthrough the aperture in the outer end of arm 127. When universal bar 160is moved forwardly, teeth 128 of the pawl ride over the teeth of gear131?, due to engagement with the sloping surfaces thereof as seen, forexample, in FIG. 4. The clearance between the horizontal edges of slot126 and shaft 120 is at least sufiicient to provide for such overridingmovement. When universal bar or rod 160 is returned to its restposition, pawl 125 is moved rearwardly. During this movement of pawl125, teeth 128 engage the radial faces of the teeth of gear 136 torotate this gear, and thus shaft 124), counterclockwise. Through one ofthe worms 118, one of the gears 117 is rotated and thus imparts arotation to its connected shaft 115 to take up the ribbon. Felt washers137 beneath each spool 110 act as friction brakes on the associatedspool.

Between the two spools 110, ribbon 129 is guided through the slots inarms 40 and through a vertically movable ribbon guide 135. Ribbon guide135 is slidably mounted, for vertical movement, upon mounting plate 57for the type bar basket. In a conventional manner, mounting plate 57 isformed with a pair of guide ears 131 for guiding the type bars intoaccurately centered position when a key 70 is struck, and a slot isformed extend ing downwardly from these ears. Ribbon guide 135 is formedwith ribbon guiding fingers 132 through which the ribbon extends.

In the normally lower position of ribbon guide 135, the ribbon isdisplaced away from guide ears 131 so that the typed matter is visible.As a key 70, or space bar 80, is struck, ribbon guide 135 is movedupwardly so that ribbon 12? is positioned in the path of movement of atype bar 60 on a type bar lever 55. This position is shown in FIG. 2 ofthe drawing. Guide is simply a substantially fiat piece of sheet metalwhich engages the back or rear surface of mounting plate 57 for the typebar basket, and has ears 133 bent around each edge of plate 57 andoverlying the front surface thereof. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5,plate 57 is formed with an elongated vertically extending slot 134, andguide 135 is formed with an aperture 136 aligned with this slot, bothfor a purpose to be described.

Carriage assembly Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 9 through 15, thecarriage assembly includes a fixed channel shaped track or guide 140over which is telescoped an inverted channel shaped movable slide 150constituting the carriage. The base of fixed track 140 is aperturedadjacent each end so that it may be secured, by screws or the like, tohorizontal ears 44 on each of the side walls of rear bracket 30. Eachflange of track 140 is formed, substantially mid-way of its height, withan outwardly facing V-shaped recess 141 extending longitudinallythereof. correspondingly, the flanges of movable channel slide 150 areformed, intermediate their height, with an inwardly facing V-shapedrecess 151 which extends longitudinally thereof, and each recess 151 isaligned with a recess 141. The facing recesses 141 and 151 receive ballbearing assemblies each comprising ball bearings 1 .2 with which may beassociated a rectilinear retainer (not shown). Screws 152 (FIG. 1) arethreaded through the inner flange of movable slide 150 and serve asabutments to limit relative longitudinal movement of slide 150 alongtrack 140, these screws engaging, for example, the ends of the rollerhearing retainers. By means of ball bearings 142, slide 150 and theelements supported thereby are freely movable longitudinally of track144 For a purpose to be described, the base of track or carriage guide 1.1 has a pair of apertured ears 143 struck out therefrom atlongitudinally spaced locations, and between these ears there is asubstantially rectangular aperture 144 out from the base. A bell 146 ismounted on the lower surface of the base of track 140 and, associatedwith this bell, is a spring biased trip hammer 147 which is arranged tobe operated to ring bell 146 by a tab 153 on slide 159 as the latternears the end of a line of type.

The carriage assembly, the elements of which are mounted upon themovable carriage 150, is biased to the left, as viewed from the front ofthe typewriter, so that under the control of the escapernent mechanism,the carriage assembly will step to the left each time a key 70 or spacebar 81 is operated. The biasing means comprises a relatively elongatedcoil spring which has one end hooked to a lug 154 on the movable slideor carriage 150. A grooved pulley 148 is rotatably mounted in theleft-hand apertured ear 41 extending from wall 35 of the rear bracket,and spring 145 is trained around pulley 148 and its opposite end ishooked to the lug 42 projecting from the right-hand end wall 35 of therear bracket, as best seen in FIG. 9.

The base of movable slide has ears 156 extended from each end thereofand bent vertically upward. These ears are apertured in alignment witheach other to receive the pivots for a cylindrical platen 155, and theouter ends of the ears are substantially circular and flanged topartially overlie the platen. A plastic knob 157 is secured to each endof the platen shaft for rotating the same to set and advance the paper.A coil spring 158 is engaged between the right-hand ear 156 and theright-hand knob 157 to act as a frictional lock to maintain platen inadjusted position.

A sheet metal paper guide 160 is provided, having a transversely arcuateportion closely embracing platen 155. Adjacent its forward edge, and atother locations if desired, guide 160 is formed with longitudinallyextending slots 161 having ears adjacent each end rotatably supporting asmall diameter rubber roller 162. These rollers 1 1 engage the paper andmaintain it firmly engaged with platen 160. Intermediate its front andrear edges, paper .guide 168 is pivoted to ears 156 as by means of smalltabs (not shown) projecting through apertures in ears 156. One or moresprings 163, connected between lugs struck from the rear surface ofpaper guide 160 and lugs struck from the base of the slide 154), biaspaper guide 160 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, tomaintain roller or rollers 162 in engagement with platen 155.

The upper rear edge of paper guide 160 is bent back on itself, as at164, to form a bearing for the reentrant ends of a paper holding wire165 which normally engages platen 155 a little bit forwardly of itsuppermost point and extends therealong to guide a paper around theplaten. A coil spring 166 (FIG. 1) biases paper wire 165 into engagementwith platen 155. Reentrant edge 164 also forms an easy to use handle formanual operation to swing paper guide 160 counterclockwise, as viewed inFIG. 2, to allow insertion and adjustment of paper between platen 155and paper guide 160'.

A bracket 149 is secured to the left ear 156 and has a horizontallyextending apertured upper ear 159 which pivotally supports ahorizontally swingable angle lever 170 utilized for step by steprotation of the platen and return of the carriage assembly to the rightat the end of each line. Interengageable stops on ear 159 and lever 170limit movement of lever 176 in one direction. A wire link 167interconnects lever 176 to a pawl and ratchet mechanism, generallyindicated at 168, for such step by step rotation of platen 155.

Escapement mechanism Referring to FIGS. 2, and 9 through 16, theescapement mechanism for the typewriter includes a rack 175 movable withslide 150 and cooperable with a pawl mechanism generally indicated at188 and operated by movement of the universal bar or rod 100. In amanner to be described more specifically hereinafter, pawl mechanism 180is oscillatably mounted in apertured ears 143 of track or carriage guide140 and extends across rectangular aperture 144 in the base of track140. Pawl mechanism 180 is oscillated by means of a crank 185 describedmore fully hereinafter, and crank 185 is connected to universal bar 160by means of a pair of off-set links 171 each apertured at one end toreceive bar 100 and at the other end to extend over the ends 183 ofcrank 185.

Links 171 are retained against displacement longitudinally of universalbar 18% by virtue of being inside of end walls 26 of front bracket 25.The rear ends of links 171 may be slipped over the ends of crank 185 andare retained from disengagement therefrom by means of ears 172 struck upfrom support base 28 and each located, with clearance, outwardly of alink 1711. As described hereinafter, the arrangement is such that eachtime universal bar 100 is moved sideways by operation of a key 70 orspace bar 80, crank member 185 is oscillated and this actuates theescapement mechanism.

Escapement rack 175 is an essentially flat piece of meta-l having a base176 formed with a reinforcing rib 177 therealong, as best seen in FIG.12. A lip 178 is bent down along one edge of base 176 and formed withsawtooth ratchet teeth 190 whose left faces, as viewed from the front ofthe typewriter, are vertical and whose right faces are sloping. Theopposite ends of rack 175 are bent upwardly, as at 173, and areoutwardly off-set, the free ends of the upwardly bent portions 173 beingprovided with outwardly projecting thumb pieces 174. Ears 173 arepivoted to one ear 156 and the bracket 149, respectively, as indicatedat 179. Thereby, the rack 175 may be swung counterclockwise, as viewedin FIG. 12, to disengage teeth 190 from pawl mechanism 180. However, acoil spring (not shown) operates on one ear 173 and rack 175 to biasrack 175 to the position indicated in solid lines in FIG. 12. For freemovement of the carriage, one or the other of thumb pieces 174 is liftedand the rack mechanism is swung to the dotted line position of FIG. 12.By virtue of disengagement of teeth 190 from pawl mechanism 180, movablecarriage slide may be moved freely relative to the fixed track 140,within the limits of movement.

As best seen in FIG. 9, escapement operating crank 185 is a relativelyelongated circular cross section rod which is bent, adjacent each end,to form two rectangular U- shaped off-sets providing pivot axes 1.81which lie in and extend through the slots 43 between horizontal ears 44of rear bracket 30. These two offsets provide a relatively elongatedcentral crank section 182 extending between the two off-sets, and crankends 183 which are engaged through apertures in the rear ends of links170. Central crank section 182 serves to oscillate pawl mechanism 188each time universal bar or rod is moved forwardly and returned.

Referring to FIGS. 9 through 16, pawl mechanism 188 includes a generallychannel shaped bracket 184 having a base 186 and flanges 187 and 188.The normally vertical free edges of flanges 187 and 188 have ears whichare extendible through slots in a generally channel shaped cover plate189, arranged to embrace flanges 187 and 188, with these cars being bentover to secure cover plate 189 to bracket 184. Flanges 187 and 188 areformed with aligned apertures 191 which receive a bolt and nut assembly192 extending through the apertures in ears 143 and serving as a pivotfor oscillation of pawl mechanism 188. A spacer 193 surrounds the boltand nut assembly 192 to space flange 188 from the adjacent ear 143, anda coil spring 194 surrounds the bolt assembly between flange 187 and theadjacent ear 143 to space this flange from the adjacent ear and to biaspawl mechanism to the left, as viewed in FIG. 10. Flange 188 is formedwith a downwardly opening vertical slot 196 in alignment with pivot 192and arranged to engage central portion 182 of escapement crank 185. Theupper end of flange 188 has extending therefrom an ear which has aperpendicular face toward base 186 and a curved face toward cover 189.For reference purposes, ear 195 will be referred to as the fixed pawl orfirst pawl.

Base 186 of bracket 184 is formed with a horizontal slot 197 adjacentits upper end receiving a headed pivot 198. Pivot 198 serves as anoscillation pivot for a movable pawl carrier plate 200 which isgenerally triangular. An ear 199 bent from the upper edge of base 186limits movement of carrier plate 290 in a counterclockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 16. Carrier plate 200 is formed with a horizontal arm 261extending through vertical slot 202 at the intersection of base 186 andflange 188. A second horizontal arm 283 is bent inwardly from the plate200 and is formed with an anchor for a tension spring 204. The other endof spring 204 is anchored to the operating rod or wire 285 for themovable ribbon guide 135.

Wire 205 has an off-set end 206 anchored through an aperture in flange188. The remainder of the rod is rectilinear and extends outwardlythrough an aperture 207 in cover plate 189 and through aperture 136 inribbon gniide 135 and slot 134 in mounting or support plate for the typebasket. Spring 204 biases carrier plate 200 in the counterclockwisedirection.

Plate 200 has an upwardly extending projection 211 from which there isbent an ear 218, hereinafter referred to, for reference, as the movablepawl or second pawl. Pawl 210' extends parallel to fixed pawl 195. andis spaced therefrom, longitudinally of the carriage assembly, by aspacing slightly less than the distance between the vertical faces ofthree teeth 199. This is best illustrated in FIG. 10. Also, and as bestseen in FIGS. 12 and 14, fixed pawl 195 and movable pawl 210 overlapeach other a relatively small amount in a direction transversely of thecarriage assembly.

Normally, pawl 210 is engaged with the vertical face of a tooth 190.When pawl mechanism 180 is rocked in a clockwise direction, as viewed inFIG. 12, fixed pawl 195 will be moved into position to engage thevertical face of a tooth 190 before movable pawl 210 disengages thevertical face of its associated tooth 190. Thus, there will be only aslight movement to the left of the carriage during such clockwiserocking of pawl mechanism 180. As the pawl mechanism is rocked back tothe perpendicular position of FIG. 12, the less than 3-teeth spacing ofthe two pawls will result in movable pawl 210 being positioned inadvance of the vertical face of the next tooth 190 to the right of thatpreviously engaged and, as fixed pawl 195 disengages its tooth 190, thecarriage will be moved to the left by an amount slightly less than thespacing between two adjacent teeth 19%, and will be stopped in thisposition by engagement of a tooth 196 by movable pawl 210.

It should be noted that the carriage assembly, including the pawlmechanism and associated parts, may be assembled as a unit before beingplaced on the typewriter. In placing the carriage assembly on thetypewriter, it is merely necessary to align slot 196 with central crankportion 182 of escapement crank 185, and then to secure track 141) tosupport ears 44. This greatly facilitates assembly of the typewriter, asall that is needed, following this operation, is to attach spring 145 atone end to hook 154, extend it around pulley 148, and attach the otherend to hook 42.

Rsum of operation When a typing key 70 is depressed, its associated bellcrank 75 is rocked counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2. This will moveuniversal bar or rod 100 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2, along slots27. The same action takes place whenever space bar 80 is depressed, asthe upward extensions 83 of its levers 81 will likewise move universalbar 100 to the left in slots 27.

The movement of universal bar 180 to the left in slots 27 effects anumber of operations. Through link 127 of ratchet 125, ratchet wheel 138and shaft 120 are rotated counterclockwise, and one or the other wormgears 117 is rotated to rotate its associated shaft 115 and ribbon spool110 to advance the ribbon.

The second operation occurs through the movement of links 171. Thisrocks escapement crank 185 which rocks pawl mechanism 180 clockwise asviewed in FIG. 12. Through wire 205, movable ribbon guide 135 is thenelevated to the typing position for engagement by a type bar 60 of atype lever 55. Also, such clockwise rocking of escapement mechanism 180disengages movable pawl 210 from its associated tooth 190 of rack 175and engages fixed pawl 195 with a tooth, after a short movement of therack to the left. Under the bias of a spring 212, connected betweencentral portion 132 of escapement crank 185 and a rear portion of rearbracket 30, pawl mechanism 180 is biased to the position shown in solidlines in FIG. 12. Thus, as a key 70 or the space bar 80 is released,pawl mechanism 180 is biased back to its vertical position wherein fixedpawl 195 releases a tooth and movable pawl 210 engages the next adjacenttooth to the right of that previously engaged. The resultantcounterclockwise rotation of escapement crank 185, through links 171,moves universal rod or bar 100' to the right in slots 27. In turn, thecounterclockwise rotation of pawl mechanism 180, through wire 205,lowers movable ribbon guide 135.

As has been previously described, depression of either one of the shiftlevers through either one of its two operating buttons 86, lowers thetype bar basket as a unit in order to type the upper case characters.Free movement of carriage 150 in either direction may be effected bygrasping thumb pieces 174 of levers 173 and lifting them from the solidline position to the dotted line position of FIG. 12. This disengagesrack teeth 190 from pawl mechansm 180 to provide for free longitudinaladjustment of the carriage assembly. A

change in direction of the ribbon feed can be effected readily by movingoperating button 121 either forwardly or rearwardly, depending upon itsinitial position. This will disengage one worm 118 from its gear 117 andengage the other worm 118 with its gear 117. Furthermore, readyadjustment of the paper around the platen can be effected by swingingpaper guide 160 clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2, thereby releasingrollers 162 from the paper so that the latter may be readily adjusted.

FIGS. 18 through 22 illustrate the typewriter shown in FIGS. 1 through17 as slightly modified to incorporate a back spacing mechanism.Referring first to FIGS. 18 and 19, a back space key lever 215 has itsoperating head 220 positioned adjacent the inner left-hand corner ofkeyboard 45, to the left of the inner or third row of typing keys 70C.Back space lever 215 is pivotally mounted upon left-hand upright arm 26of bracket 25 which, for this purpose, is modified to receive a pivot216, for lever 215, and a stop pin 217. Lever 215 is an essentially flatstamping of sheet metal, stamped to provide a forward angle portion 218and a rear angle portion 219. Operating button or back space key 220 isset on the upwardly extending portion of forward angle section 218.

The rear end of the rear angle portion 219 carries a pivot pin andspacer arrangement 221 which is slidably engaged in a diagonal slot 222in the forward end of what may be termed an intermediate side link orlever 225 which is pivoted, intermediate its ends, on an L-shapedbracket 223 secured to base 20 adjacent the left side thereof and justforwardly of rear bracket 30. Intermediate side lever 225 has a forwardinwardly off-set portion 224 and a rearwardly extending arm 226, off-setportion 224 being formed with the slot 222. Side lever 225 is a flatmetal stamping formed to have an upwardly off-set and rearwardlyextending operating end 227.

Adjacent operating end 227 of lever or link 225, left side wall 35 ofrear bracket 30 is formed with a vertically extending slot 228.Referring to FIGS. 20 through 22, adjacent left side wall 35 of bracket30, the rear wall 33 thereof is apertured to receive a pivot pin 231surrounded by a spacer 232 and pivotally mounting an engaging lever 230.Engaging lever 230 is an essentially fiat stamping of metal which isT-shape in plan including a stem 233 extending through slot 228 andhaving its outer end twisted, as at 234, to extend substantiallyhorizontally and to engage beneath operating end 227 of intermediateside lever 225. Lever 230 is engaged by its pivot 231 at a pivot axiswhich is spaced somewhat above the junction of its stem 233 and its head236. The upwardly extending portion of head 236 is notched, as at 237,to anchor one end of a tension spring 235.

A rack engaging and pushing lever 248 has its outer end pivotallysecured to the lower extension of head 236 of lever 230, as indicated at238. Lever 240 is generally L-shaped in elevation, and comprises a pieceof sheet metal stamped and formed to provide a generally horizontal andrelatively long arm 241 and a generally vertical arm 242. A flange 243is bent inwardly at a right angle from the free outer edge of arm 242,and it will be noted that arm 242 has a bent portion 245 projectingupwardly through the aperture 244 in track formed by cutting and bendingear 143 from the base of the track. Flange 243 is continued part wayalong bent upper end 245 of arm 242. The other end of tension spring 235is hooked into an aperture 246 in horizontal arm 241 of lever 240, thisaperture being located substantially midway of the length of arm 241.

It will be noted that engaging and pushing lever 240 is freely pivotallymounted upon the lower end of head 236 of lever 230. Tension spring 235tends to bias lever 240 clockwise and lever 230 counterclockwise. In thenormal position of the parts, as illustrated in FIG. 20, bent portion245 of arm 242 of lever 240 engages the bend line of ear 143, withfinger 245 and a part'of flange 243 extending into aperture 244. In thisposition of the parts, there is a resistance to the clockwise rotationof lever 240 about its pivot 238, so that lever 2343 is biasedcounterclockwise, lifting end 227 of intermediate side lever 225 and,through the connected linkage, elevating operating key 220 of back spacelever 215. The upper end of flange 243 is disposed somewhat beneathteeth 190 of rack 175.

When key 220 of back space lever 215 is depressed, this lever is swungclockwise, as viewed in FIGS. 18 and 19, to the position of FIG. 19.This swings intermediate side lever 225 counterclockwise so thatoperating end .227 thereof moves finger 234 of lever 230 downwardly inslot 228. This swings lever 230 clockwise from the position shown inFIG. 20 to the position shown in FIG. 21.

Due to the tension of spring 235, the first result of the clockwisemovement of lever 230 is to move engaging'and push lever 240 clockwisewith bent portion 245 of arm 242 of lever 240 sliding upwardly due toits angular relation with the intersection of ear 143 and the base oftrack 140. This moves flange 243 upwardly between a pair of teeth 190 ofrack 175. After a very short movement, such upward movement is halted byengagement of the upper end of flange 243 with rack 175, so that lever240 can no longer move clockwise.

Upon further movement of lever 230 clockwise, due to operating end 227of intermediate side lever 225 moving downwardly, lever 240 is shiftedbodily to the left, as viewed in FIGS. 20 and 21. During this motion,flange 243, in engagement with a perpendicular face of an adjacent tooth190 of rack 175, moves rack 175 to the left a distance equivalent toabout 1.5 times the spacing of teeth 190. Such motion is equivalent to areturn motion of the carriage, so that pawl mechanism 180 will slip overthe sloping surfaces of teeth 190. As back space key 220 is released,the parts are returned, under spring bias, to the positions shown inFIGS. 18 and 20, wherein flange 243 is disengaged from teeth 19%. Rack175 is locked in its newly adjusted position by pawl mechanism 180, andthere will be a very slight movement to the left of rack 175 until therack teeth engage movable pawl 210 of pawl mechanism 180.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A typewriter comprising, in combination, a support base; a keyboardincluding typing key levers; a type bar basket; pivotally mounted bellcranks connecting respective typing key levers to respective type barsof said type bar basket; and guiding and spacing means for said typingkey levers and said bell cranks; said guiding means including a combextending transversely of said base, rearwardly of said keyboard; saidbase comprising a sheet of metal bent to form a forward wall extendingupwardly of said base, a top wall extending substantially parallel tosaid base, and a rear wall extending downwardly from said top wall tosaid base; said front and top walls being formed with a plurality ofslots equal in number to the number of typing key levers and to thenumber of associated bell cranks, said slots being closed end slots andextending upwardly in said front wall and rearwardly into said top wall;the portions of said slots in said front wall being wider than theportions thereof in said top wall; the portions of said slots in saidfront wall each receiving a typing key lever and one arm of itsassociated bell crank, with clearance; the portion of each slot in saidtop wall receiving, with clearance, the normally upwardly extending armof a bell crank; said bell cranks being pivotally mounted on a shaftextending longitudinally through said comb and mounted in wallsextending upwardly from the base at opposite ends of said comb, saidwalls at opposite ends of said comb being parallel to each other andeach formed with a substantially horizontal slot, with the two slotsbeing aligned; a rod extending longitudinally of said comb top wall andhaving its ends engaged through said slots, said rod being engaged withthat arm of each bell crank which isconnected to a type bar; whereby,upon operation of a typing key lever, said rod will be displaced bodilyalong said slots while extending parallel to its original position; acarriage moveably mounted transversely of said base; escapernentmechanism controlling movement of said carriage in one directiontransversely of said base; and linkage means inter-connecting both endsof said rod and said escapernent mechanism; said linkage means includinga transversely pivoted elongated crank proximate to said escapernentmechanism and cooperating therewith, and a pair of links, each beingconnected, at opposite ends, to one end of said elongated crank and acorresponding end of said rod extending longitudinally of said comb.

2. For use in a typewriter having a frame, an escapernent mechanismcomprising a sawtooth rack adapted to extend longitudinally of acarriage of the typewriter, and a pawl mechanism mounted for oscillationabout an axis parallel to said rack, said pawl mechanism including abracket pivoted to said frame on said axis parallel to said rack andhaving a first normally vertical wall extending perpendicular to saidaxis and a second normally vertical wall extending parallel to saidaxis; a first pawl projecting upwardly from said first wall forengagement with the teeth of said rack, and normally disengaged fromsaid teeth; a carrier plate slideably mounted on said second wall andhaving projecting therefrom a second pawl normally in engagement withsaid sawteeth; said carrier plate being slideable in a directionparallel to said axis and including means cooperating with said bracketfor limiting the sliding movement thereof to a distance approximatingthe distance between adjacent teeth, and spring biasing means acting onsaid carrier plate to normally urge said second pawl toward said firstpawl; said pawls extending parallel to each other, and normal to thedirection of movement of said rack, and said pawls extending intooverlapping relation transversely of said rack whereby, as said secondpawl is disengaged from said rack said first pawl will be moved intoengagement with said rack, and as said first pawl is disengaged fromsaid rack said second pawl will be moved into engagement with said rack;said pawls being spaced from each other, in a direction parallel to thetravel of said rack.

3. A typewriter comprising, in combination, a frame including a supportbase; a keyboard including typing key levers; a carriage guide extendinglaterally of said base; a carriage displaceable along said guide; meansbiasing said carriage in one direction along said guide; an escapernentmechanism controlling stepwise displacement of said carriage in said onedirection; a platen on said carriage; means operatively interconnectingsaid typing key levers and said escapernent mechanism whereby,responsive to each actuation of a typing key lever, said escapernentmechanism is operated to provide for stepped movement of said carriagealong said guide under the influence of said biasing means; saidescapernent mechanism comprising a sawtooth rack extendinglongitudinally of said carriage, and a pawl mechanism oscillatablymounted on said carriage guide for oscillation about an axis parallel tosaid rack; said pawl mechanism including a bracket pivoted to said frameon said axis parallel to said rack and having a first normally verticalwall extending perpendicular to said axis and a second normally verticalwall extending parallel to said axis; a first pawl projecting upwardlyfrom said first wall for engagement with the teeth of said rack, andnormally disengaged from said teeth; a carrier plate slideably mountedon said second wall and having projecting therefrom a second pawlnormally in engagement with said sawteeth; said carrier plate beingslideable in a direction parallel to said axis and including meanscooperating with said bracket for limiting the sliding movement thereofto a distance approximating the distance between adjacent teeth, andspring biasing means acting on said carrier plate to normally urge saidsecond pawl toward said first pawl; said pawls extending parallel toeach other and normal to the direction of movement of said rack, andsaid pawls extending into overlapping relation transversely of said rackwhereby, as said second pawl is disengaged from said rack said firstpawl will be moved into engagement with said rack; said pawls beingspaced from each other, in a direction parallel to the travel of saidrack; whereby, as said pawl mechanism is oscillated in one directionresponsive to a typing key lever actuation, said second pawl willdisengage its engaged rack tooth and slide toward said first pawl underthe urging of said spring biasing means, and said first pawl will moveinto the path or" a rack tooth to allow a slight movement of thecarriage from right to left as viewed from the front of the typewriterand, as the typing key lever is released, the reverse oscillation ofsaid pawl mechanism will move said second pawl into position to engagethe tooth adjacent the one previously engaged and, as said first pawl isdisengaged from said rack, said carriage and said second pawl will movethe balance of the distance between two rack teeth from right to left inresponse to said carriage biasing means.

4. A typewriter comprising, in combination, a support base; a keyboardincluding typing key levers; a type bar basket; pivotally mounted bellcranks connecting respective typing key levers to respective type barsof said type bar basket; guiding and spacing means for said typing keylevers and said bell cranks, said guiding and spacing means including anelongated comb extending transversely of said base rearwardly of saidkeyboard and said comb having a pair of opposed end walls parallel toeach other and respectively formed with substantially horizontal slotswhich are in alignment with each other; a carriage movable transverselyof said base; escapement mechanism controlling movement of said carriagein one direction transversely of said base; and an assembly foractuating said escapement mechanism in response to turning of said bellcranks, said assembly including a rod extending longitudinally of saidcomb and having ends respectively extending through said slots, said rodbeing guided by said slots for horizontal movement while remainingparallel to its original position, and said rod being engaged by thatarm of each bell crank which is connected to a type bar, so that uponoperation of a typing key lever said rod will be displaced bodily alongsaid slots while remaining parallel to its original position, and saidassem-bly further including a linkage means interconnecting both ends ofsaid rod and said escapement mechanism, said linkage means including atransversely pivoted elongated crank proximate to said escapementmechanism and cooperating therewith, and a pair of links, each beingconnected, at opposite ends, to one end of said elongated crank and acorresponding end of said rod extending longitudinally of said comb.

5. A typewriter, as claimed in claim 3, in which said carriage guidecomprises a bracket having a pair of upright walls at each end thereof,each wall having an outwardly directed pair of ears at its upper endformed with a slot therebetween; a crank rod extending longitudinally ofsaid bracket and including a central crank section having a lengthsubstantially equal to the spacing between said two upright walls ofsaid bracket, a pair of substantially rectangular U-shaped off-sets atthe ends of said central crank section each having a bight parallel tosaid central crank section and lying in said slots be-. tween said earsto form a pivot axis for said crank, and a pair of crank ends extendingcoaxially with said central section and lying outside of said uprightwalls; and a pair of links engaged with said laterally displaceable rodand with said crank ends; said first wall of said pawl mechanism brackethaving a notch in its lower edge engageable with the central section ofsaid crank rod; said links forming part of said means interconnectingsaid typing key levers and said escapement mechanism.

6. A typewriter, as claimed in claim 5, in which said support base is asubstantially fiat sheet metal base; the ends of said links beingmaintained in engagement with said crank ends by cars cut and bentupwardly from said support base and lying outside of said links to limitdisplacement thereof outwardly of said crank ends.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 767,528 8/1904Perry 197-21 788,758 5/1905 Diss 197-88 1,059,782 4/1913 Stern 197-2]1,147,300 7/1915 Briggs 197-88 1,167,428 1/1916 Pickles 197-22 1,185,2995/1916 Felbel 197-97 X 1,897,699 2/ 1933 Hart 197-60 1,955,415 4/1934Dysart 197-22 2,091,111 8/1937 Stickuey 197-22 2,238,518 4/1941 Dieck197-159 2,294,662 9/ 1942 Helmond 197-91 2,536,619 1/1951 Yeager 197-852,577,467 12/1951 Kloski et a1 197-91 2,705,553 4/1955 Thomson 197-222,818,958 1/1958 Toeppen et al 197-85 2,859,852 11/1958 Suif 197-222,913,090 11/ 1959 Tholstrup 197-60 2,917,150 12/1959 Suif 197-222,919,784 1/1960 Morris 197-159 3,057,449 10/1962 Thomson 197-22 ROBERTE. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

1. A TYPEWRITER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SUPPORT BASE; A KEYBOARDINCLUDING TYPING KEY LEVERS; A TYPE BAR BASKET; PIVOTALLY MOUNTED BELLCRANKS CONNECTING RESPECTIVE TYPING KEY LEVERS TO RESPECTIVE TYPE BARSOF SAID TYPE BAR BASKET; AND GUIDING AND SPACING MEANS FOR SAID TYPINGKEY LEVERS AND SAID BELL CRANKS; SAID GUIDING MEANS INCLUDING A COMBEXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BASE, REARWARDLY OF SAID KEYBOARD; SAIDBASE COMPRISING A SHEET OF METAL BENT TO FORM A FORWARD WALL EXTENDINGUPWARDLY OF SAID BASE, A TOP WALL EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TOSAID BASE, AND A REAR WALL EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID TOP WALL TOSAID BASE; SAID FRONT AND TOP WALLS BEING FORMED WITH A PLURALITY OFSLOTS EQUAL IN NUMBER OF THE NUMBER OF TYPING KEY LEVERS AND TO THENUMBER OF ASSOCIATED BELL CRANKS, AND SLOTS BEING CLOSED END SLOTS ANDEXTENDING UPWARDLY IN SAID FRONT WAL AND REARWARDLY INTO SAID TOP WALL;THE PORTIONS OF SAID SLOTS IN SAID FRONT WALL BEING WIDER THAN THEPORTIONS THEREOF IN SAID TOP WALL; THE PORTIONS OF SAID SLOTS IN SAIDFRONT WALL EACH RECEIVING A TYPING KEY LEVER AND ONE ARM OF ITSASSOCIATED BELL CRANK, WITH CLEARANCE; THE PORTION OF EACH SLOT IN SAIDTOP WALL RECEIVING, WITH CLEARANCE, THE NORMALLY UPWARDLY EXTENDING ARMOF A BELL CRANK; SAID BELL CRANKS BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON A SHAFTEXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH SAID COMB AND MOUNTED IN WALLSEXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE BASE AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID COMB, SAIDWALLS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID COMB BEING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER ANDEACH FORMED WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL SLOT, WITH THE TWO SLOTSBEING ALIGNED; A ROD EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID COMB TOP WALL ANDHAVING ITS ENDS ENGAGED THROUGH SAID SLOTS SAID ROD BEING ENGAGED WITHTHAT ARM OF EACH BELL CRANK WHICH IS CONNECTED TO A TYPE BAR; WHEREBY,UPON OPERATION OF A TYPING KEY LEVER, SAID ROD WILL BE DISPLACED BODILYALONG SAID SLOTS WHILE EXTENDING PARALLEL TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION; ACARRIAGE MOVEABLY MOUNTED TRANSVERSELY OF SAID BASE; ESCAPEMENTMECHANISM CONTROLLING MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIAGE IN ONE DIRECTIONTRANSVERSELY OF SAID BASE; AND LINKAGE MEANS INTER-CONNECTING BOTH ENDSOF SAID ROD AND SAID ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM; SAID LINKAGE MEANS INCLUDINGA TRANSVERSELY PIVOTED ELONGATED CRANK PROXIMATE TO SAID ESCAPEMENTMECHANISM AND COOPERATING THEREWITH, AND A PAIR OF LINKS, EACH BEINGCONNECTED, AT OPPOSITE ENDS, TO ONE END OF SAID ELONGATED CRANK AND ACORRESPONDING END OF SAID ROD EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID COMB.